Belly pan revisited

[Robert]

I want to raise a concern I have for all those that use belly pans. I was thinking about buying a belly pan and thought about what they cover. These bikes have catalytic converters on them they run extremely hot to the tune of 8 or 9 hundred degrees and they along with the exhaust are at the very bottom of the engine and cowling. I have concerns  about covering those puppies up. I know that there have been no fires and problems it seems from installing them. I have seen vented belly pans that seem to be a better idea. Yes they keep the bottom of the bike clean and yes they do protect the coolant tank but they may also keep alot of heat in. The earlier bikes did not have the cats but our bikes do. I may be raising a pointless concern but maybe not. There is a heat shield around the coolant tank to protect it from the exhaust heat. I have seen catalytic converters on cars that did not run well turn red hot, so this is not a idle concern either. They are welded right to the down pipes. So all the heat of the exhaust is channeled directly to them.

  The more I look into my Valk the more I admire Honda's engineering of this bike. There is not to much to do to the running of the bike that will improve any characteristic as far as performance or running and any modification would have to be carefully thought out. I guess you do enough of something enough times you get it right. I have not spent to much time seeing what can be done but in what I have seen its not going to be super easy like my 1500.

[hubcapsc]

I guess you do enough of something enough times you get it right.

Honda can flat out make Goldwings  ... that they finally stripped
one down to just a motorcycle is the greatest...

-Mike

[_Sheffjs_]

I glad you started this thread, I have not bought one as of yet and felt the same way.  I guess we can lurk around on a full on wing forum for info however I think I will leave it alone as well.  

[mrtappan]

 This bike is basically a Goldwing and people have been using belly pans on Goldwings for years.  Never heard of any problems caused by one. So I see no evidence to support the pan doing anything that damages any part of the bike.

[st2sam]

My solution, covered just the expansion tank.

I used a piece of gal. tin I had laying around cut exact shape as tank bottom and bent up around front,  taped on with metal heating duck tape.

It won't save it from a curb or large rock but it will protect it from smaller stones thrown backward off the front wheel.

I checked it out the other day, looks like it was sandblasted. It's working.  

[eric in md]

never heard of problems with them..  all my buddys have them we ride hard and crazy .. been on gravel roads for 65 miles i feel it saved the bike and engine with belly pan . i really think it protects far more then it will ever hurt..  you never know when you might pull into a yard , field , off the side of road and hit bottom, something on road ,A  cracked block 1000 miles from home is no good, broken cool tank not fun on the side of rd 100 miles from nowhere.   cheap insurance and piece of mind in my book . ride safe enjoy

[Robert]

I found this which I may buy, I have looked into what others have said and the years of their bikes and have to say that there does not seem to be a problem. But with the vented belly pan it allows air to escape and protects the vitals. I was looking into the front cowling and there is a air scoop that directs air to the lower engine and exhaust. So it would be a natural flow and in fact may help keep it cooler.

http://wingstuff.com/products/24485-performance-stainless-belly-pan-for-gl1800-w-oversize-fasteners?from_search=1

[mrtappan]

Fancy.....

[TallRider]

Well street temps here are running 100 deg. right now. The fan on my bike kicks on constantly. I changed my oil to 20w50 synthetic at 1200 miles. I was worried from the start the catylitic converter was cooking the trans. Bike runs quiet and shifts smoother with the change. Need to keep it cool here. We have lots of sand here no rocks so don't think shield that important.

[hungryeye]

I think the original intent for the belly pan was to stabilize the bike at highway speeds. Maybe it was only the 1500 Goldwing that collected air turbulence from under the bike and caught up in the fairing. I've owned a few 1500's and remember passing big rigs on I40 and feel like I was going to be blown away with all the dirty air, less faired bike don't seem to have that effect.